An escort is a person who works in the red-light industry (sex work). Specifically, an escort is a person who offers companionship and sexual services in exchange for money. Escorts can be of any gender, but the vast majority are typically humans and halflings. (See [[Escort#Youkai and escort work|this section]] for details.)
The term ''escort'' is synonymous and partially interchangeable with ''prostitute''. Escorts consider that prostitution is specifically the sexual aspect of their job, and that the word "prostitute" does not fully encompass the range of services they can offer, which ranges from simple companionship to advanced sexual services.
There are two broad categories of escort work; independent and organized.
Independent escorts are rarer. They are defined as not working for a boss or organization at all, and usually work alone or in small teams of 2-4. Being independent allows them to keep 100% of their earnings, but they are fully responsible for their own safety and protection. Independent escorts generally have more freedom; usually operating in a designated area or adopt the ''itinerant escort'' business model, traveling between towns and intersections, and selling their services "in passing", using the temporary nature of their stay as a selling point.
The [[Yatela Crime Syndicate]] is thought to possess the largest network of organized escorts. They are known for being aggressive towards competing networks and independents, usually by harassing or attacking their customers, coercing them into assimilation into the Syndicate's own network, or driving them out of business through more violent methods. This campaign of domination of the escort industry, - nicknamed ''Operation Toss The Pineapples'' (in reference to , referencing the stereotypically unpopular pineapple pizza), - is thought to have begun in [[History of the Mazes|E7-694]]. Within 2 years, the Syndicate gained control of a majority of escort bosses across the Mazes, and managed to successfully suppress legitimate youkai escort businesses, virtually driving all of them out of existence.
=== Price index ===
=== Youkai and escort work ===
Although strictly speaking, youkai escorts ''can'' exist, they are virtually impossible to find. The Yatela Crime Syndicate launched a violent campaign to suppress and destroy youkai escort groups, in order to ensure their domination over the industry. As part of the Yatela Crime Syndicate's ''Operation Toss The Pineapples'', the Syndicate consistently harassed and drove youkai operations out of business, often with extreme violence and prejudice, in an effort to delegitimize and terrorize youkai sex work, customers seeking "exotic" companionship, and ensure the Syndicate's control over the industry. The term "pineapple" was briefly known as an underground euphemism for a youkai escort - an undesirable.
Today, youkai sex services are confined to youkai communities, inside of secret, exclusive clubs that do not openly advertise their services. These clubs are reserved for a curated selection of customers who are usually sworn to secrecy, in order to protect the escorts' names and identities. Breaking a club's rule of silence is generally punished by death, and retribution is believed to be carried out by Youkai Nation activists.
[[Category:Occupations]]
[[Category:Occupations open to humans]]
[[Category:Occupations open to halflings]]